2G1 EXPEDITION INTO 



broken Dutch^ had challeiig-ed the gallant equestrians to do 

 them battle. Cobus, who the morning* before^ when he 

 dreamt not of the real state of the case^ had ridden forth 

 g'asconading- of his proA\ ess in arms^ now repeated several 

 times emphatically that the contemptible spokesman had ac- 

 tually defied him in terms derogating" from his valom'. 

 '•'' Here/' said he, ^^ Here stand your oxen ; come up if 

 you're a man ! Take them, ye poltroons, if ye dare !" Yet, 

 although mounted, and abundantly supplied with munition, 

 these hulking white-livered villains did not blush to acknow- 

 ledge that their personal fears had induced them to decline 

 the invitation. Neither was it possible now to persuade 

 them to turn back with me ; the eneni}^, they declared, 

 being so exceedingly numerous, and ensconced in so strong 

 a position, that nothing could be attempted with so small a 

 force. 



Here then, like sailors who have foundered upon a rock 

 when within sight of their destined haven, were we — after 

 weathering many a storm, and accomplishing the most ha- 

 zardous portion of our journey— left at last, a wreck in the 

 desert. The spirit of Ethaldar groaned within him, when 

 he thus saw his prediction on the eve of being- verified, and 

 the lower jaAV of Coeur de Lion dropped until his beard was 

 dangling at his girdle. To add to Us misfortunes, the 

 scanty pool upon which our supply of water depended, being- 

 drained to the dregs, it had become necessary to perform a 

 journey of six miles over an enemy's country, in order to 

 replenish the tea-kettle. 



The vindictive and improvident character of the Bushman 

 hordes, aptly surnamed ^4he ox-eaters," rendered it extremely 

 probable that the whole of our luckless teams had already 

 been wantonly sacrificed to their malice ', but, at all events, 

 the day was too far spent to admit of our reaching the scene 

 of action before dark, and the night being moonless, it was 



